New Explorer Needs Some Help

[MoonManx22]

Hello fellow CMDR's,

I have been playing ED for about 2 weeks now and so far I have enjoyed every second. I have tried some trading and also some bounty hunting and accumulated enough money to buy myself a Diamondback Explorer. I bought the DBE yesterday and outfitted it the best I could with the resources I had. It currently has a jump range of about 18ly. I am going to save up some more money for a frame shift drive that will increase that number to 30ly.

I went on a short exploration run yesterday to test all systems and see if I knew what I was doing. I quickly realized that I did not. I did figure out how to scan a star, fuel scoop and even sold some data about 2 stars I scanned, but I realized that the stars I was scanning where "Unexplored" but already "Discovered" this raised some questions.

My questions about exploration are as follows:

1. How do you find an undiscovered system?
2. How do you discover a new system/star?
3. Systems in the galaxy map that do not have "system info" available, does that mean that no one has scanned the star?
4. What should I look for when planing an efficient exploration trip? What should I look for?
5. What is the best way to filter the galaxy map to find candidates to discover/explore?

I would really like to plan a short to medium range (1-3 days) exploration trip to really get a grasp of the processes and procedures before going on a long range one (2-6 weeks). Any advise, would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Zieman]

2. By being the first to sell the data of that star.
3. No.

 

[thehairymob]

Best thing to do is pick a direction and go. You will only know if a system has been scanned before if you visit it and you will only know if you get a first tag when you gwet back. As to what to look for well that depends on what you are interested in seeing. Are you interested in seeing Saggy A? Doyou want to see nebulas? Or are you like me and just want to go for a wander? For filters look at the tabs in the Galaxy Map on the left. Go through the tabs and you'll soon get to grips with it. Fly safe

 

[Sapient6]

Hello fellow CMDR's,

I have been playing ED for about 2 weeks now and so far I have enjoyed every second. I have tried some trading and also some bounty hunting and accumulated enough money to buy myself a Diamondback Explorer. I bought the DBE yesterday and outfitted it the best I could with the resources I had. It currently has a jump range of about 18ly. I am going to save up some more money for a frame shift drive that will increase that number to 30ly.

I went on a short exploration run yesterday to test all systems and see if I knew what I was doing. I quickly realized that I did not. I did figure out how to scan a star, fuel scoop and even sold some data about 2 stars I scanned, but I realized that the stars I was scanning where "Unexplored" but already "Discovered" this raised some questions.

My questions about exploration are as follows:

1. How do you find an undiscovered system?
2. How do you discover a new system/star?
3. Systems in the galaxy map that do not have "system info" available, does that mean that no one has scanned the star?
4. What should I look for when planing an efficient exploration trip? What should I look for?
5. What is the best way to filter the galaxy map to find candidates to discover/explore?

I would really like to plan a short to medium range (1-3 days) exploration trip to really get a grasp of the processes and procedures before going on a long range one (2-6 weeks). Any advise, would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

1. In general, travel further away from inhabited space in a direction that is not towards a nearby tourist attraction (e.g. Barnard's Loop)
2. Be the first to sell the surface scan data.
3. No, that only means you haven't been there and it is not data that is pre-populated for all players.
4. Whatever you want to look for? Sorry, it depends upon your objectives, so I'm not sure how to otherwise answer this.
5. Again, it depends upon your objectives. There is no way to filter for systems that don't already have a "first discovered by" tag, which is really the only objective you've shared here. The further out you get the more such systems you find, until eventually you'll barely care anymore.

Advice: conduct your exploration in a way that makes it fun for you.

 

[MoonManx22]

Best thing to do is pick a direction and go. You will only know if a system has been scanned before if you visit it and you will only know if you get a first tag when you gwet back. As to what to look for well that depends on what you are interested in seeing. Are you interested in seeing Saggy A? Doyou want to see nebulas? Or are you like me and just want to go for a wander? For filters look at the tabs in the Galaxy Map on the left. Go through the tabs and you'll soon get to grips with it. Fly safe

Thank you for the advise. Also great question, I guess im not sure what im looking for, a black hole or a nebula would actually be great. I will play with the filters today to try to get a better grip. Thanks again!

- - - Updated - - -

1. In general, travel further away from inhabited space in a direction that is not towards a nearby tourist attraction (e.g. Barnard's Loop)
2. Be the first to sell the surface scan data.
3. No, that only means you haven't been there and it is not data that is pre-populated for all players.
4. Whatever you want to look for? Sorry, it depends upon your objectives, so I'm not sure how to otherwise answer this.
5. Again, it depends upon your objectives. There is no way to filter for systems that don't already have a "first discovered by" tag, which is really the only objective you've shared here. The further out you get the more such systems you find, until eventually you'll barely care anymore.

Advice: conduct your exploration in a way that makes it fun for you.

Thank you, this is very helpful. I will be sure to fly to less populated areas.

 

[Sapient6]

Thank you, this is very helpful. I will be sure to fly to less populated areas.

Let me clarify a bit: the distance from Sol that is currently banded about as being the boundary after which it is trivial to find undiscovered systems is 500 LY. I have no idea how reliable that is, but it sounds right to me. There are almost certainly still undiscovered systems within The Bubble, but finding them is rather challenging.

 

[Bam]

I see you only said scanning stars, you do have a foghorn scanner fitted dont you? The Discovery Scanner. Only the star will show up if you haven't used the discovery scanner.
Sorry if I am pointing out the bleedin obvious but its easy to miss off that one module.... trust me I have done it.

 

[Lucky Dice]

1. Getting a bit further from the bubble. Although two days ago I did hit an unexplored system quite nearby, just a single M class star though, but apperently they're still out there nearby. The tourist attractions in the neighbourhood, like the nubela's, type O stars etc. are quite extensively mapped already, but still serve a purpose for setting some sort of destination and are still interesting to see up close. On your journey towards them you might get lucky and actually discover something.
2. If you don't see a 'Discovered by' tag and scan the body so it doesn't say unexplored any more and are the first to sell the scan data.
3. No, it just means it isn't part of the included as standard mappackage of your stellar TomTom/Garmin.
4. Efficient as in? Credits? Time? Maximizing your chance to be first discoverer? Fun? Time and credits, honk and cherry pick only the valuable objects for detailed scans. First discoverer, go far, far away and pick random stars instead of going for tourist attraction. Fun, just go out and see what works for you. I pick things that seem interesting to me, could be an earth like, but sometimes I travel huge distances just to investigate a worthless ice planet because it's ring appeals to me...
5. F, G and K class stars, are the most sun like so have a better chance of having planets that could support life. But I've seen really interesting systems with a Tauri like star as well, so don't over think it to much.

 

[MoonManx22]

Let me clarify a bit: the distance from Sol that is currently banded about as being the boundary after which it is trivial to find undiscovered systems is 500 LY. I have no idea how reliable that is, but it sounds right to me. There are almost certainly still undiscovered systems within The Bubble, but finding them is rather challenging.

Thank you! That is a great way to explain it. So, I would need to travel at least 500ly from SOL to have much better odds of discovering new systems. Now, on the galaxy map will the system show up even if it is undiscovered?

- - - Updated - - -

I see you only said scanning stars, you do have a foghorn scanner fitted dont you? The Discovery Scanner. Only the star will show up if you haven't used the discovery scanner.
Sorry if I am pointing out the bleedin obvious but its easy to miss off that one module.... trust me I have done it.

I appreciate the advise, at first I did not have the Discovery Scanner fitted and learned that the hard way.

 

[MoonManx22]

1. Getting a bit further from the bubble. Although two days ago I did hit an unexplored system quite nearby, just a single M class star though, but apperently they're still out there nearby. The tourist attractions in the neighbourhood, like the nubela's, type O stars etc. are quite extensively mapped already, but still serve a purpose for setting some sort of destination and are still interesting to see up close. On your journey towards them you might get lucky and actually discover something.
2. If you don't see a 'Discovered by' tag and scan the body so it doesn't say unexplored any more and are the first to sell the scan data.
3. No, it just means it isn't part of the included as standard mappackage of your stellar TomTom/Garmin.
4. Efficient as in? Credits? Time? Maximizing your chance to be first discoverer? Fun? Time and credits, honk and cherry pick only the valuable objects for detailed scans. First discoverer, go far, far away and pick random stars instead of going for tourist attraction. Fun, just go out and see what works for you. I pick things that seem interesting to me, could be an earth like, but sometimes I travel huge distances just to investigate a worthless ice planet because it's ring appeals to me...
5. F, G and K class stars, are the most sun like so have a better chance of having planets that could support life. But I've seen really interesting systems with a Tauri like star as well, so don't over think it to much.

Thank you, this is a very thorough answer. I guess I would like to be a first discoverer and also just for fun.

When you say that you travel to earth likes and icy planets with rings, are they unexplored? If so how do you find them in the first place?

 

[Kancro Vantas]

Hello CMDR,

You might want to check Nutters Guide, a classic text for the new explorer.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=81653

1. How do you find an undiscovered system?
The same way you would: by guessing. We pick a direction/target and go for it hoping for the best. You won't know until you don't make it there though.

2. How do you discover a new system/star?
Same way than above, but when you get there, turns out you are the first! Yay! Now, you need to get close to the object, and let the Surface Detail Scanner do its thing. Then come back to station, sell data. That's when it gets the tag with your name, not before.

3. Systems in the galaxy map that do not have "system info" available, does that mean that no one has scanned the star?
It means that YOU haven't scanned that star. Crazy, I know. It should tell us all available. But this way, it allows for new people to discover systems too, albeit they probably won't be the first ones, they'll make some needed money in the early stages.

4. What should I look for when planing an efficient exploration trip? What should I look for?
See Nutter Guide I linked above. In general you own style will dictate what you like. But most explorers look for Earth Like Planets, Neutron Stars, Black Holes, Ammonia Worlds, Water Worlds and Terraformables.

5. What is the best way to filter the galaxy map to find candidates to discover/explore?
Learning that, is one of the many ways to have fun with exploring that I won't give away just like that! Is like asking what is the best trading route! ;-)

Safe travels CMDR!

 

[Lucky Dice]

Being the first one to set eyes on something does feel a bit special. Personally I scan things that look interesting to me. Earth like always do that, things like ice planets would need interesting features like rings and being the first also helps them. Personally I like it if to see multiple explorer tags, so if I hit a virgin system I tend to leave a couple of rocks unscanned to give other explorers also something to put their tag on. Other explorers might just call that lazy scanning though, so that's up to you. Some times I travel 300k ls to scan a barren rock, just because I feel sorry for it that clearly multiple explorers traversed the system already and all his friends have been scanned so it will probably feel left out.

How did I find it? Stumbled upon it mostly. Couple of times plotted my course a bit more up or down to get off the beaten track. One time decided to map a certain area of the map and found a couple of interesting systems I wouldn't have found by plotting a course, as they in a sort of dead end part of a cluster.

Just to be clear, all body that are not included as standard in the system map will say unexplored once your dicovery scanner picks them up. You know they're really unexplored if they don't have discovered by tag.

 

[iain666]

Thank you, this is very helpful. I will be sure to fly to less populated areas.

If you do want to visit the sights (principally the obvious nebulae near the bubble) then approaching them from an odd angle will ensure that most of your trip is through virgin systems - the straight routes are all well mapped, go a few hundred ly up or down and off to one side before you head towards them and it'll still be mostly undiscovered all the way. If you do see the same tag for a few systems in a row then just head off on a perpendicular for a few jumps and resume your course.

 

[MoonManx22]

Hello CMDR,

You might want to check Nutters Guide, a classic text for the new explorer.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=81653

1. How do you find an undiscovered system?
The same way you would: by guessing. We pick a direction/target and go for it hoping for the best. You won't know until you don't make it there though.

2. How do you discover a new system/star?
Same way than above, but when you get there, turns out you are the first! Yay! Now, you need to get close to the object, and let the Surface Detail Scanner do its thing. Then come back to station, sell data. That's when it gets the tag with your name, not before.

3. Systems in the galaxy map that do not have "system info" available, does that mean that no one has scanned the star?
It means that YOU haven't scanned that star. Crazy, I know. It should tell us all available. But this way, it allows for new people to discover systems too, albeit they probably won't be the first ones, they'll make some needed money in the early stages.

4. What should I look for when planing an efficient exploration trip? What should I look for?
See Nutter Guide I linked above. In general you own style will dictate what you like. But most explorers look for Earth Like Planets, Neutron Stars, Black Holes, Ammonia Worlds, Water Worlds and Terraformables.

5. What is the best way to filter the galaxy map to find candidates to discover/explore?
Learning that, is one of the many ways to have fun with exploring that I won't give away just like that! Is like asking what is the best trading route! ;-)

Safe travels CMDR!

Thank you for the detailed answers. That guide is awesome! I can't wait to find my first undiscovered system! I can think of any other game that offers such an immersive experience.

 

[MoonManx22]

If you do want to visit the sights (principally the obvious nebulae near the bubble) then approaching them from an odd angle will ensure that most of your trip is through virgin systems - the straight routes are all well mapped, go a few hundred ly up or down and off to one side before you head towards them and it'll still be mostly undiscovered all the way. If you do see the same tag for a few systems in a row then just head off on a perpendicular for a few jumps and resume your course.

That's actually great advise. I want to give that a try today, any suggestions for a cool site to visit?

 

[ThoroughlyLostExplorer]

Please keep in mind that your exploration data is stored in the ship. It is ok if you change to another ship in a space station, but the data will be lost if your ship is destroyed.

There are a number of dangers in exploring, like forgetting to scoop fuel and then running out. In fact, there are large areas of unscoopable stars. Even with some routine, I have an instance of almost-running-out every few playtime days. Another danger is getting too close to a hot star and dropping out of supercruise -- especially in a "close" binary system. This can fry you for plenty of heat damage during the hyperdrive spinup and 5 second countdown. A badly cracked canopy is an ugly sight if you have 5000 ly to go to have it repaired. That never actually managed to kill me, but remember: Damage accumulates over time.

Consider starting with shorter journeys until you have become familiar with the risks and know how to evaluate them. Considering exploring to be dangerous helps create the mystique of the profession -- however its not as bad as it sounds and you'll be definitely be fine for very long journeys once you survived each of the typical "bad situations" and know what to do. On longer journeys, bring a repair unit, just in case.

I started out with a few short daytrips NE out of the bubble to about 1000 ly away from the nearest outpost, 100-400 ly away from galactic plane. I found an undiscovered earthlike 700 ly away from the bubble in March -- maybe there are some left still.

 

[MarcusVatta]

Please keep in mind that your exploration data is stored in the ship. It is ok if you change to another ship in a space station, but the data will be lost if your ship is destroyed.

There are a number of dangers in exploring, like forgetting to scoop fuel and then running out. In fact, there are large areas of unscoopable stars. Even with some routine, I have an instance of almost-running-out every few playtime days. Another danger is getting too close to a hot star and dropping out of supercruise -- especially in a "close" binary system. This can fry you for plenty of heat damage during the hyperdrive spinup and 5 second countdown. A badly cracked canopy is an ugly sight if you have 5000 ly to go to have it repaired. That never actually managed to kill me, but remember: Damage accumulates over time.

Consider starting with shorter journeys until you have become familiar with the risks and know how to evaluate them. Considering exploring to be dangerous helps create the mystique of the profession -- however its not as bad as it sounds and you'll be definitely be fine for very long journeys once you survived each of the typical "bad situations" and know what to do. On longer journeys, bring a repair unit, just in case.

I started out with a few short daytrips NE out of the bubble to about 1000 ly away from the nearest outpost, 100-400 ly away from galactic plane. I found an undiscovered earthlike 700 ly away from the bubble in March -- maybe there are some left still.

Also, be careful of neutron stars and black holes. If you get too close and drop out of supercruise, your heat can go critical almost immediately. Creep up on them, stop when you've got your scan, and turn back once the scan is complete. Do not try to "get a better look" as you can't get close enough to most neutron stars and black holes to actually see them.

 

[Zieman]

Also, be careful of neutron stars and black holes.

Scan (of BH & NS) starts at 5.0 Ls distance. You can approach at half throttle to about 8 Ls, then hit zero throttle & you should be crawling at 30 km/s about 4-5 Ls away - safe scan.

 

[iain666]

That's actually great advise. I want to give that a try today, any suggestions for a cool site to visit?

For a not-too-far first run there are a heap of nebulae in the area of Barnard's Loop between 1 and 1.5 kylies from Sol.

Spoiler

That's M78, Barnard's Loop, Orion and Horsehead (at least), with one of the Magellanic Clouds in the background

This thread will point you at the nebulae in the local region.